The liturgical Season of Lent comes around every year as a time of relationship, repentance, reconcilication, renewal and reparation too for our sins. Each year there can be a slightly different focus. 2026 is Pope Leo’s first and also the YEAR OF ST FRANCIS. These give us food for thought, prayer and action.

Summary POPE LEO’s Lenten message: Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion. Come together as a community to listen to the word of God and to the vulnerable. Avoid harsh words, cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities so that words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace. Lent is a time to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives.   Pope Leo Lenten Message: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/13/260213d.html

Pope Leo and Year of St Francis: According to a special decree from 10 January 2026 to 2027 is dedicated to St Francis. “May the shining example of St. Francis, who knew how to make himself poor and humble in order to be true alter Christus on earth, inspire our hearts to live with authentic Christian charity towards our neighbour and with sincere longings for concord and peace among peoples. Following in the footsteps of the Poverello of Assisi may this Year of St Francis be for each one of us a providential occasion for sanctification and evangelical witness in the contemporary world, for the glory of God and the good of the whole Church.  A pilgrimage to a Franciscan church, and a Plenary Indulgence with its requirements apply. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-01/year-saint-francis-indulgence-assisi.html

MARFAM SUGGESTIONS FOR LENTEN ACTIVITIES.

LENTEN BOOKLET FOR THE YEAR OF ST FRANCIS. ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILY LENTEN THOUGHTS. LOVE IS HIS LAW, LOVE IS HIS WAY. obtainable from MARFAM and various bookshops and parishes. Contact +27 825521275 or [email protected] Contains THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY published daily. Also linked with the 2026 FAMILY YEAR PLANNER.

LENTEN CALENDAR:

2026 LENTEN CALENDAR – pdfDownload

FAMILY PRAYER MEAL.

A SIMPLE FAMILY PRAYER MEALDownload

FAMILY RECONCILIATION SERVICE.

RECONCILIATION IN THE FAMILY O FDownload